Extensible car-step



(No Model.)

M. E. GAMPANY. EXTBNSIBLB GAR STEP.

Patented Sept. 16,

II III WITNESSES:

A TTOR/VEYS v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON E. OAMPANY, OF HAMILTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HORACE B. PEOK,OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

EXTENSIBLE CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,454, datedSeptember 16, 1890.

Application filed July 9 1890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON E. CAMPANY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hamilton, in the county of Allegan and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ExtensibleCar-Steps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an extensible carstep for railroad-cars, whichis adapted to fold out of the way when the car is in motion and to belet down in position for use when the car stops, and that is under thecontrol of and may be operated from the locomotive; and it consists inthe construction, combination, and arrangement of the various partshereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevationwith parts broken away to show details of a device embodying myinvention; Fig. 2, a rear elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 a detail inplan of the locking mechanism.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each of the figures.

A represents the platform of an ordinary railway-car, to which issecured the ordinary permanent railway-car steps 0, having side boardsB. 1

0 represents an extensible step, which is pivoted between theinwardly-turned ends of the pendent arms D D of the transverse bar D,journaled underneath the lower step 0 in such a manner that when the barD is turned so as to fold the arms D D underneath and parallel to thelower step the step 0 will be folded underneath the same, as shown inFig. 1 by dotted line.

E represents a guide-bar provided with a Serial No. 358,188. (No model.)

G is a transverse rock-shaft journaled at the angle of the riser andtread of the upper step, and has the pendent crank-arm F, en-

gaging the slot P at its lower end, and has the crank-arms H H, securedto its end outside the side board B and underneath the timber A. To theouter end of arm H is attached the hand-rod K, for operating the deviceby hand when the air-cylinder is not employed.

L represents a spring-latch arranged on the top of the platform, whichengages with a notch in the side of rod K to lock it in its upperposition when the step is down, and M represents an eccentric to holdthe latch from engagement. The end of the lever H engages with the endof the piston-rod I of the air-cylinder J, for operating the step byairpressure from the locomotive.

N is a retracting-spring, having one end attached to the platform andthe other to the arm F, for retracting the same when the airpressure isremoved.

Air is forced intothe cylinder J through the pipe J from the air-tank onthe engine in the usual manner, causing the piston I to be thrustdownward, depressing arm H, and

thereby producing a partial revolution of G,

actuating F and E, and extending O, as shown in the drawings. Theforward impulse of E is such as to throw its upper end into engagementwith 0, thereby locking firmly, holding the step. Pressure upon 0 holdsit firmer,

as will be readily comprehended. When the air-pressure is removed thespring N retracts the arm F and draws the step back into its formerposition. The car being disconnected from the engine, the step may beoperated by the hand-rod K and latch L, as is obvious.

What I claim is 1. The herein-described extensible car-step, comprisingthe bar D, journaled on the permanent steps, having the pendent arms DD,

IOO

steps, a transverse rock-shaft G, j ournaled on the permanent steps,having a crank-arm 1 arranged in the rear of the step, and a bar E,having one end connected with the step and the other end formed with anelongated slot P, to receive the lower end of said crank-arm,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the permanent steps, of an extensible step 0,pivoted between the pendent arms D D, as set forth,a rock-shaft G,having a crank-arm F, and a rod E,,having the portion E at an angle tothe main portion secured to the step and connecting the arm F and step,the lever connected with the rock-shaft, the latch, and the eccentricengaging the latch, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the permanent steps, of an extensible step 0',pivoted between the pendent arms D D, as set forth,a bar E, having theportion E at an angle to the main portion of the bar, the plate 0, se-

cured to the permanent steps and engaging the upper end of the bar E,and means of lifting the bar E, a spring-latch to engage the on thepermanent steps, having the crankarm F, attached to the bar E, and thecrankarm H on the rock-shaft and connected to the air-cylinder J,substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MILTON E. OAMPANY. Witnesses:

DENNIS L. ROGERS, LUTHER V. MoULToN.

step, the transverse rock-shaft G, journaled

